Mars Global Surveyor

MGS

Agency

NASA

Country

🇺🇸 USA

Launched

1996-11-07

End Date

2006-11-02

Mass

1,030 kg

Instruments

5 science instruments

MOC camera, MOLA laser altimeter, TES thermal emission spectrometer, MAG/ER magnetometer, RS radio science

Orbit

Nearly circular polar mapping orbit, ~378 km altitude, 117-minute period

Key Findings

1.MOLA laser altimeter produced the most accurate global topographic map of any planet — revealing Mars is divided into two distinct hemispheres by elevation
2.Discovered remnant crustal magnetic field in the ancient southern highlands, indicating Mars once had a global dynamo
3.MOC imaged gully features in crater walls consistent with recent seepage of liquid water within the past million years
4.Monitored active weather systems including dust devils, wave clouds, and polar cap seasonal changes over nine years

Mission Outcome

Mars Global Surveyor operated for nearly a decade, far exceeding its two-year primary mission, and became the most scientifically productive Mars spacecraft to that date. It lost contact on November 2, 2006, after a memory management error caused the solar panels to orient incorrectly. Its datasets remain a primary reference for Mars science and landing site selection.

Sources

[1] NASA Mars Exploration Program — retrieved 2026-06-01
“Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was one of the most successful missions ever sent to the red planet. The spacecraft returned detailed information about the surface, atmosphere, and interior of Mars.”
[2] NASA NSSDCA — retrieved 2026-06-01

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